Blog
Back to School: Making the Most of Virtual Learning
The start of this school year will not look like the others. The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on public education as all Virginia schools closed abruptly in March and many will begin two weeks late this year. Instead of taking that bus ride to school Monday...
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SAT Prep for High School Freshmen and Sophomores
Prepping for the SAT or ACT two to three months before the test date can feel a little overwhelming. That's why parents ask us all the time how their students can get a jumpstart on test prep freshman and sophomore years of high school. There are certainly ways to...
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Planning for Success: Setting Career Goals, Part 4
The difference between a senior in high school considering a major for the first time and a middle school student setting career goals is the process in which they make the decision. If you have not thought much about your future before heading off to college, you...
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It’s Time to Apply for College… is it Smart to Apply Early?
Regular admissions, rolling admissions, early decision, early action… all of these terms refer to college application deadlines. Unfamiliar with the college lingo? Take a few moments to read our previous blog post and learn all about each deadline option. Then, read...
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Community Service During COVID-19
Community service is noticeably different now with many organizations and non-profits closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that doesn't mean you can't still serve the community. It just requires a little time and creativity. Beyond the desire to serve others...
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Plan A, B, and C: Comparing and Ranking Career Choices, Part 3
On average, Americans change jobs 12 times during their lifetimes and work less than five years in one job.* Since you will most likely work in more than one field throughout your career, it's important to prepare for more than one job. When creating a career plan...
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Why Take the SAT in a Test Optional World?
Since its inception in 1926, the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) has encountered its fair share of controversy, from a lack of equity to skepticism regarding its validity in predicting a student's success in college. Over the past few years, more and more colleges have...
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When Should I Prepare for and Take the SAT or ACT? Part II
In the last blog, we talked about questions to consider when planning your SAT and ACT test dates and preparation for those tests during junior and senior year. You can check out those questions here. Now that you know what to consider, it's time to put that...
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When Should I Prepare For and Take the SAT or ACT? Part I
Many students and parents ask when the SAT or ACT test should be taken and when test prep should start. There are many factors to consider and it can vary based on the student’s starting scores and goal score. Below are some things to consider. Take a practice test...
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Changes to College Admissions After COVID-19
Never in our lifetime have schools closed on a global level because of a viral pandemic. Students have experienced many unexpected changes this year, from schools closing three months early to the administration of AP exams at home instead of in the classroom and the...
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The Benefits of Online Tutoring
I admit that, when it comes to tutoring, I am old school. I like meeting with a student face-to-face, sitting down at the kitchen table or grabbing a latte at a local coffee shop with a ten pound pile of books. Prior to COVID-19, online tutoring felt more like a...
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Learning Outside the Classroom
With the closure of Virginia schools from mid-March to August due to the coronavirus pandemic, students will have five months off from in-person classroom instruction. The structure and support schools provide students will be sorely missed, and the risk of falling...
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Virtual Field Trips & Online Educational Activities
Museums, historical sites, art galleries, and zoos offer excellent opportunities to learn outside the classroom. Ideal for kinesthetic learners, these types of field trips allow for plenty of movement while engaging all the senses. Unfortunately, with so many public...
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Virtual Learning- It Just Got Real!
As the coronavirus pandemic sweeps through the nation, the disruption and chaos it has caused can be felt in every facet of our lives. Requirements of social distancing have wreaked havoc on the public school system, resulting in school closures for at least a month....
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What Does It Mean to Be Waitlisted?
When college decision letters start rolling in, the anticipation of being accepted or denied admission can feel overwhelming. The response in this letter could determine where you spend the next four or five years. But what if your response is “waitlisted"? How long...
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College Campus Resources
Living on a college campus is a unique and exciting experience. You probably won't ever live in a building with hundreds of other students your age or enjoy lunches and dinners you don't have to cook after the college years. While the dorms and dining hall are staples...
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Test Taking Tips
If there is one thing students are familiar with, it’s exams. All kinds of exams; the ones with multiple choice answers, true/false questions, an essay or two, and yes... even math exams! While it's important to understand subject content, it is also helpful to apply...
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The Benefits of Community College
As friends receive their college acceptance letters and start planning their lives after high school, living at home and attending community college might not seem nearly as exciting. Although you won't experience late night study sessions with friends in the dorm...
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Should I Take the ACT or SAT?
One of the questions we are asked most frequently is “should I take the ACT”? I always tell juniors that they should try both the SAT and the ACT. Even if you do not take an official test, you should at least take a practice test of each to get an idea of the...
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Is that a Good SAT or ACT Score?
When the SAT or ACT scores come out, we are often asked, “Is that a good SAT or ACT score?” This is a tough question to answer because “good” is very relative. Before I answer that question for a parent or student, I always ask which schools will the student apply to?...
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